John F. Connet named Hendersonville city manager

Published: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 2:15 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 7:29 p.m.

John F. Connet has been named Hendersonville’s next city manager, city officials announced Tuesday, and will begin work May 28.

Connet is currently the city manager of Clinton in Sampson County, about 30 minutes east of Fayetteville, and has served in that position since July 2002. Clinton has a population of about 8,600, according to the 2010 Census.

In a posting on the city’s website, Mayor Barbara Volk said Connet was selected from a field of 86 applicants.

Hendersonville City Councilman Steve Caraker said the decision to offer Connet the job was unanimous, and that Connet’s level of experience and ability to work “wonders” with limited budgets made him stand out.

“It was a very difficult decision because all three (of the top) candidates were very good,” Caraker said. But discovering what Connet was able to accomplish in Clinton “with very little resources and a much smaller tax base was impressive.”

Clinton is the county seat of Sampson County and lies about an hour south of Raleigh. Prior to Clinton, from 1999 until 2002, Connet served as town manager of Winterville, a city near Greenville, N.C. that was home to about 5,000 residents in the 2000 census. He worked for the city of Hickory, first as a planner from 1992 until 1997 and then as risk manager from 1997 until 1999.

In addition to Connet’s experience, Caraker said he was “impressed by the depth of his character.” He said Connet seemed to share a lot of the qualities much-admired in former City Manager Bo Ferguson, but Caraker also looks forward to the other skills he will bring to the position.

During the interview process, Connet told council members that he considered applying for the city manager position when it was open about five years ago, but was not ready to move his family. Ferguson was hired at the end of that search.

Connet earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science/Geography from Western Carolina University in August 1992, and received a master’s in Public Administration from Appalachian State University in December 1997.

Volk said Connet has many skills and traits that will be useful in Hendersonville.

“With his background at Western Carolina and Appalachian State, John knows the mountains,” she said in the statement posted online. “Clinton, although smaller than Hendersonville, has all the departments we have and has recently done downtown rejuvenation and a park master plan, so John understands our challenges. The council members are looking forward to having John, his wife and his daughters with us and for all of you to meet them. A reception to introduce the Connet family and welcome them to our community will be announced soon.”

Caraker said Connet appeared to be very pleased with the city after he toured it a few weeks ago and was excited about plans for the city’s second fire station.

All three of the top candidates “said that Hendersonville has a very good reputation for being a board that’s easy to work for,” Caraker said. “It’s good to hear that we’ve got a good reputation among manager associations.”

Connet attended the Municipal Administration Program in 2000 and the Public Executive Leadership Academy in 2008 at the School of Government at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

He is a member of the International City and County Management Association and has earned and maintained the Credentialed Manager status. He also belongs to the N.C. City and County Management Association and serves on the Board of Directors of the N.C. League of Municipalities.

Connet has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International, is certified as a Merit Badge Instructor for Boy Scouts of America and earned the Eagle Scout designation through Troop 27 of Clinton. While at Western Carolina, he was elected to serve as president of the Student Government Association.

Connet, his wife, Lori, and their two daughters, ages 8 and 10, attend Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church, where Connect has served as an elder.

<p>John F. Connet has been named Hendersonville's next city manager, city officials announced Tuesday, and will begin work May 28. </p><p>Connet is currently the city manager of Clinton in Sampson County, about 30 minutes east of Fayetteville, and has served in that position since July 2002. Clinton has a population of about 8,600, according to the 2010 Census. </p><p>In a posting on the city's website, Mayor Barbara Volk said Connet was selected from a field of 86 applicants. </p><p>Hendersonville City Councilman Steve Caraker said the decision to offer Connet the job was unanimous, and that Connet's level of experience and ability to work “wonders” with limited budgets made him stand out.</p><p>“It was a very difficult decision because all three (of the top) candidates were very good,” Caraker said. But discovering what Connet was able to accomplish in Clinton “with very little resources and a much smaller tax base was impressive.”</p><p>Clinton is the county seat of Sampson County and lies about an hour south of Raleigh. Prior to Clinton, from 1999 until 2002, Connet served as town manager of Winterville, a city near Greenville, N.C. that was home to about 5,000 residents in the 2000 census. He worked for the city of Hickory, first as a planner from 1992 until 1997 and then as risk manager from 1997 until 1999.</p><p>In addition to Connet's experience, Caraker said he was “impressed by the depth of his character.” He said Connet seemed to share a lot of the qualities much-admired in former City Manager Bo Ferguson, but Caraker also looks forward to the other skills he will bring to the position. </p><p>During the interview process, Connet told council members that he considered applying for the city manager position when it was open about five years ago, but was not ready to move his family. Ferguson was hired at the end of that search.</p><p>Connet earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science/Geography from Western Carolina University in August 1992, and received a master's in Public Administration from Appalachian State University in December 1997. </p><p>Volk said Connet has many skills and traits that will be useful in Hendersonville. </p><p>“With his background at Western Carolina and Appalachian State, John knows the mountains,” she said in the statement posted online. “Clinton, although smaller than Hendersonville, has all the departments we have and has recently done downtown rejuvenation and a park master plan, so John understands our challenges. The council members are looking forward to having John, his wife and his daughters with us and for all of you to meet them. A reception to introduce the Connet family and welcome them to our community will be announced soon.”</p><p>Caraker said Connet appeared to be very pleased with the city after he toured it a few weeks ago and was excited about plans for the city's second fire station.</p><p>All three of the top candidates “said that Hendersonville has a very good reputation for being a board that's easy to work for,” Caraker said. “It's good to hear that we've got a good reputation among manager associations.”</p><p>Connet attended the Municipal Administration Program in 2000 and the Public Executive Leadership Academy in 2008 at the School of Government at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.</p><p>He is a member of the International City and County Management Association and has earned and maintained the Credentialed Manager status. He also belongs to the N.C. City and County Management Association and serves on the Board of Directors of the N.C. League of Municipalities.</p><p>Connet has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International, is certified as a Merit Badge Instructor for Boy Scouts of America and earned the Eagle Scout designation through Troop 27 of Clinton. While at Western Carolina, he was elected to serve as president of the Student Government Association.</p><p>Connet, his wife, Lori, and their two daughters, ages 8 and 10, attend Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church, where Connect has served as an elder.</p>